The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-25

MEN WHO WILL INITIATE THE INTER.
STATE COMMERCE. ACT.

The President on Tuesday appointed
the following Inter State Commerce
Commissioners: Thomas nj. Cooley,
of Michigan, for the term of six years
William Il. Morrison, of Illinois, for
the term of Eve years Augustus
Sohoonmaker, of New York, for the
term of four years Aldace f. Walker
of Vermont, for the term of three
years Walter A. Bragg, of Alabama,
for the term Of two years.
The fact that Mr.. Coolev's name
heads the list does not necessarily indi-
cate that be will be chairman OF the
commission, as il must elect its own
chairman.
Judge Cooley was born at Attica N
Y, in 1924, studied law in that State
and removed to Michigan in 1S43.
where he has since resided. In 1857
he was elected compiler of the State
laws, and in 1858 reporter of the Su-
preme Court. In 1859 he was chosen
by the Regents as commissioner to or
ganize the law department Of the Uni
versity of Michigan, and he has ever
since been connected with it. In 1864
| he was elected Justice of the Supreme
Court and was reelected in 1869 and
in 1877. He was nominated by the
Republicans for reelection in 1885 and
was defeated. Mr.. Cooley is the author
of numerous standard legal works. He
was recently appointed by United
States Judge Gresham receiver of the
Wabash Railroad Company.
Aldace +. Walker is Vermont
lawyer, about a. years old, Republi
can in politics, who studied law With
Senator Edmunds, served as colonel in
the Union army and has since then
practiced law at Rutland. In the Yer
mont Senate he has taken leading
part in framing legislation to solve the
railway problem and had given much
study to the question
August Schoonmaker, of Kingston,
N. Y, was born in Ulster county, N.
Y, March 2, 1928, and is lawyer in
active practice. He has always been
a Democrat in politics. He has been
County Judge of his county and the
candidate of his party for Supreme
Court Judge. He was State Senator
d iring Governor Tilden's term as
Governor and was one of the leaders
in the Legislature on whom Mr.. Til
den relied to carry out his reform
measures. He was always close per-
sonal and political friend of Mr.. Til
den. Mr.. Schoonmaker was Attorney
General of New York State in 1878
and 1879, succeeding Mr.. Fairchild,
the present Acting Secretary of the
Treasury. 10 1876 he was presented
by the anti-Tammany delegation from
New York in the Democratic State
Convention as their candidate for
Governor, and was a delegate to the
Democratic National Conventions in
1875 and 1880 and also to the Chicago
Convention in 1884.
Judge Sohoonmaker is now men,
Der of the Civil Service Commission
of New York State, having been ap-
pointed by Governor Cleveland and re-
tained in Office by Governor Hill.
Walter L. Bragg was born in Ala.
bama in 1888, but resided in Arkansas
from 1843 to 1861. He was educated
at Harvard University and Cambridge
Law School and practiced law in Ar.
kansas for some years. At the close
OF the war he settled in Alabama and
was for some years the law partner of
General Morgan. He has been lead
ing Democrat in that State for some
years and has served az National Dele
gate, Presidential Elector and mem
Der of the Democratic national com
mittee. In 1881 he was made presi-
dent of the Alabama State Railroad
Commission and served in that position
four years, during which time many
important questions arising between
the railroads and their customers were
satisfactorily adjusted.
| Mr.. Morrison's political career az
leader of the Democi attic majority in
the House of Representatives is famil
lar to everybody.